CRICKET: The first round of the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association served up a see-sawing affair when Colts overcame Collie in a tight match.
A prolific 85 run partnership between Colts captain Clayton Caltsounis and Deon Attard was enough to pull their side from the mud and chase down the target of 184 with no wickets to spare.
Collie was first to bat and although opener Seth White was dismissed for six runs from three balls, youngster Liam Kinsella (41) teamed up with Blair Malatesta (29) to put their side in a respectable position.
The pair put on a partnership of 64 leaving Collie with a score of 2/77 after Malatesta caught out.
Jebb Swallow was the next dismissal for Collie scoring only 15, but Rodney Ford helped put the pressure back on Colts with his team-high score of 51 runs.
Ford’s half century allowed Collie to finish with a total of 183 runs.
Cruize Ciallella was Colts’ best bowler with the figures of 2/17 after nine overs.
Colts’ run chase of 184 started slowly with opening batsmen Tyler Robertson (nine runs from 18 balls) and Ciallella (16 from 25) taking their time before being dismissed.
Kyle Davis managed 22 runs for his side, but it wasn’t until Caltsounis and Attard entered the crease that Colts really got going.
Caltsounis put up his side’s best score with 45 while Attard followed closely with 42.
But Colts were sent back into panic mode when the two were ousted with a flurry of wickets leaving the tail order to finish things off.
Collie was desperate for the final wicket but was unfortunately denied as Jack Wilson punished the Coalminers with a four, claiming the win for Colts.
Ford put up a man of the match performance following his score of 51 runs with the bowling figures of 4/22 in the second innings.
Leschenault and Eaton came as close it comes on Saturday with the sides playing a tie game in the first round of the season.
Tom Buchanan put up 55 runs to start his 2014/15 campaign with solid contributions from other teammates allowing his side to finish with 188 runs.
Eaton’s run chase started with Mick Rogers (17), Justin Prentice (15) and Stuart Clark (11) all being dismissed before reaching 20 runs.
Facing a score of 4/87, Jake Rudd and Brodie Swayne came together at the crease for a score for a partnership of 83.
However the tail order couldn’t get the needed runs as the game finished in a tie.
The Dalyellup Settlers opened their 2014/15 season with a significant win over the Hay Park Redbacks.
The Redbacks’ struggles from past seasons seem to be continuing as the Settlers ran this game out comfortable victors.
Contributions from Corey Fagan (21), Matt Fink (38), Matthew Green (28) and Gary Manchip (29) helped the Settlers post a score of 7/162, which proved too much for Hay Park.
The Redbacks were bowled out in the 41st over for just 97 runs.
Michael Tassone was their only contributor with more than 20 runs, finishing with 38.
Ben Cooper was the Settlers’ best bowler with the figures of 3/13.
